Humalog generic: Availability, cost, and more

In this article:

• Is there a generic for Humalog?
• Is Admelog generic Humalog?
• What are the differences between brand-name and generic Humalog?
• Humalog (insulin lispro) warnings and side effects
• What is the price of generic Humalog?
• Brand vs. generic Humalog prices
• What are the off-label uses for Humalog?
• How to switch from Humalog to generic Humalog

In this article

• Is there a generic for Humalog?
• Is Admelog generic Humalog?
• What are the differences between brand-name and generic Humalog?
• Humalog (insulin lispro) warnings and side effects
• What is the price of generic Humalog?
• Brand vs. generic Humalog prices
• What are the off-label uses for Humalog?
• How to switch from Humalog to generic Humalog

Humalog (insulin lispro) is a brand-name prescription medication that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control blood sugar levels in pediatric and adult patients with diabetes mellitus (e.g., Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes). Humalog is a fast-acting insulin that’s self-injected up to 15 minutes before or immediately after a meal to prevent high blood sugar. Based on data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Humalog is the third most commonly prescribed insulin. Because brand-name medications can be expensive, many people wonder whether a more affordable generic is available. 

Is there a generic for Humalog?

Yes, generic Humalog became available in 2019, 23 years after brand-name Humalog was launched. Insulin lispro is the generic name for Humalog.  

In 2020, Lilly, the manufacturer of Humalog, announced it was also authorizing the production of a generic Humalog Junior KwikPen and Humalog Mix 75/25 KwikPen (insulin lispro protamine/insulin lispro). 

Both the brand-name and generic versions are available at most pharmacies, and data from CMS suggests most people get brand-name Humalog rather than the Humalog generic. 

Is Admelog generic Humalog?

No, Admelog is not generic Humalog. It’s another brand-name version of insulin lispro manufactured by Sanofi. It works just like Humalog and was released in 2017 as a more affordable Humalog alternative, but the two medications are made in different ways. This manufacturing difference is substantial enough to warrant a completely different brand name for Admelog.

Humalog consists of insulin lispro harvested from living cells, which makes it a “biologic product.” In contrast, Admelog was originally approved as a copy of insulin lispro, known as a “follow-on insulin.” Admelog is now classified as a biologic.

According to an article published in Endocrine Practice in 2018, it’s impossible to copy the biologic product structure exactly, leading to possible differences in safety and efficacy. These potential differences mean Admelog is a separate product and can’t be marketed as generic Humalog. 

What are the differences between brand-name and generic Humalog?

Brand-name and generic Humalog have the same active ingredient, insulin lispro. They work the same way, have the same therapeutic effect, are given at the same dosage, and share FDA approval. 

“The biggest difference is the cost and coverage,” says Gail Clifford, MD, an Orlando-based physician. “Generics are typically cheaper and preferred on insurance formularies, but there is no clinical reason to prefer brand-name Humalog over generic insulin lispro. There is no meaningful difference in safety or potency.” 

Jennifer Brown, MD, a board-certified obesity expert with MyObesityTeam, agrees. “In my mind, Humalog and its generic insulin lispro are, for all intents and purposes, identical.”

There may be minor differences in inactive ingredients, like preservatives, fillers, or coloring agents, in generic versus prescription drugs. In rare cases, someone may need to take brand-name Humalog because they’re sensitive to the preservative or filler in the generic version. 

Generics and brand-name medications also have different manufacturers. Humalog is made by Lilly, and generic insulin lispro is made by a Lilly subsidiary called ImClone Systems. Medication often looks different based on the manufacturer, but there’s no significant difference in the way Humalog pens and vials look compared to insulin lispro pens and vials. They’re the same color and shape, so using one is exactly like using the other.

What is the price of generic Humalog?

Without insurance, generic Humalog (insulin lispro) retails for around $73 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen (about a month’s supply if using 10 units per day). Brand-name Humalog retails for around $118 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen. 

However, most people can save even more money regardless of whether or not they have insurance:

• A SingleCare prescription discount card lowers the price of brand-name Humalog and generic insulin lispro to as low as $33 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen, depending on pharmacy and location. 
• Prescription drug costs vary by plan, but some plans have $0 copays for generic or name-brand Humalog.
• By law, Medicare beneficiaries pay no more than $35 out-of-pocket per insulin prescription.
• People who qualify for the Lilly Insulin Value Program pay no more than $35 out-of-pocket.

*Average cost at time of publication. Drug prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location.

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What are the off-label uses for Humalog? 

“Off-label Humalog is most common in hospital settings and in insulin pump therapy,” Dr. Clifford says. “Humalog is prescribed for its rapid action, predictability, and flexibility compared with regular insulin.” For example, if someone is experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis, they may be given rapid-acting insulin like Humalog to quickly bring their blood sugar levels down. 

Dr. Brown says some people use Humalog and other insulins off-label for bodybuilding. “They believe it increases muscle mass by enhancing protein synthesis. This is a very dangerous practice—insulin can quickly cause severe hypoglycemia and death when people who are not diabetic use it.”

How to switch from Humalog to generic Humalog

Switching from name-brand Humalog to generic Humalog is simple. Pharmacists are allowed to dispense lower-cost generic medications in place of name-brand medications. 

“Insurers and pharmacies often default to generic brands, but doctors may write ‘Dispense as Written’ on the prescription so that the pharmacy does not substitute a generic,” Dr. Clifford says. If this happens, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you can take generic Humalog.

You don’t have to taper off Humalog before switching to the generic version. Both options work exactly the same way in the body, so there’s no transition period. However, if you run out of Humalog or there’s an insulin shortage, it’s important to seek medical advice so you don’t experience life-threatening issues like hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis. 

Bottom line

Brand-name Humalog and generic insulin lispro work exactly the same way but are made by different companies and have different retail costs. Generic insulin lispro tends to be the more affordable option, but both versions cost about the same with a SingleCare discount coupon. If you tend to be sensitive to the preservatives and fillers used in some medications, talk to your healthcare provider about whether name-brand or generic Humalog is right for you. Otherwise, there’s no substantial difference between these medications.